Earn your BM in Percussion
The University of Iowa Percussion Program nurtures the serious study and creative exploration of percussion.
Percussion students at Iowa have the advantages that a large and vital university community offers, while enjoying the individualized attention and supportive atmosphere the percussion area provides.
Iowa percussion’s comprehensive approach to education gives students the extensive background necessary to pursue future endeavors in the field. Graduates are regularly accepted into other major percussion programs as graduate teaching assistants, teach on the faculties of colleges, universities, and public schools, and perform in a wide variety of musical settings.
Facilities for percussion at Iowa are excellent, with 10 dedicated practice and storage rooms and a large inventory of top-quality instruments. Iowa Percussion and the Hawkeye Drumline play exclusively Yamaha concert and marching percussion instruments and Sabian cymbals, and endorse Latin Percussion (LP) instruments and Innovative Percussion sticks and mallets.
Already applied and admitted to the university? Prepare to audition with the School of Music.
Requirements and program planning
Course Offerings
- Musicianship and Theory I (MUS:1201)*, 4 semester hours
- Musicianship and Theory II (MUS:1202), 4 semester hours
- Musicianship and Theory III (MUS:2203), 4 semester hours
- Musicianship and Theory IV (MUS:2204), 4 semester hours
- Group Instruction in Piano I (MUS:1211)**, 1 semester hour
- Group Instruction in Piano II (MUS:1212)**, 1 semester hour
- Recital Attendance (MUS:1210), 6 semester hours
- History of Western Music I (MUS:2301), 3 semester hours
- Note: Also meets General Education Requirement for Literary, Visual, and Performing Arts and Historical Perspectives.
- History of Western Music II (MUS:2302), 3 semester hours
- Note: Also meets General Education Requirement for Literary, Visual, and Performing Arts and Historical Perspectives.
- Techniques of Conducting (MUS:3625), 2 semester hours
*Entering students who do not have Advanced Placement (AP) or transfer credit should enroll in MUS:1201:0002, and take Placement Exam A, administered online in the summer before the start of the fall semester, to determine readiness for the sequence. Learn more about this process.
**Students will take a piano placement exam and may place out of one or both Group Piano classes based on their proficiency.
Select one of the following:
- Jazz Cultures America and Abroad (MUS:1009), 3 semester hours
- Note: Also meets General Education Requirement for Diversity and Inclusion and Literary, Visual, and Performing Arts.
- World Music (MUS:1310), 3 semester hours
- Note: Also meets General Education Requirement for Literary, Visual, and Performing Arts.
- Music of Latin America and Caribbean (MUS:2311), 3 semester hours
- Note: Also meets General Education Requirement for Diversity and Inclusion and Literary, Visual, and Performing Arts.
- Advanced Jazz History (MUS:4350), 3 semester hours
- Lower level applied lessons (MUS:2037), 8 semester hours*
- Upper level applied lessons (MUS:3037), 8 semester hours
- Major Ensemble (MUS:3160), 8 semester hours
- Senior Recital (MUS:4900), 1 semester hour
*A maximum of 6 semesters (12 semester hours) in lower-level applied instruction is allowed.
Select 3 semester hours from these:
- Form and Analysis (MUS:2206), 3 semester hours
- Introduction to Jazz Improvisation (MUS:3001), 3 semester hours
- Instrumentation (MUS:3220), 2 semester hours
- Arranging for Band (MUS:3665), 2 to 3 semester hours
- Intermediate Jazz Improvisation (MUS:3710), 2 semester hours
- Jazz Theory (MUS:3750), 2 semester hours
- Counterpoint Before 1600 (MUS:4200), 3 semester hours
- Counterpoint After 1600 (MUS:4201), 3 semester hours
- Keyboard Harmony (MUS:4210), 1 to 2 semester hours
- Advanced Jazz Improvisation (MUS:4710), 2 semester hours
- Transcription (MUS:4750), 2 semester hours
- Percussion Ensemble/Steel Band (MUS:3150), 6 semesters
- Intermediate Steel Band (MUS:3163), 2 semesters
Choose from any music (MUS) courses, except those closed to music majors.
Recommended for percussion majors:
- Symphony Orchestra (MUS:3180), 1 semester hour
- This course can be repeated.
- Jazz Band (MUS:3730), 1 semester hour
- This course can be repeated.
- Small Jazz Ensemble (MUS:3740), 1 semester hour
- This course can be repeated.
- Advanced Percussion Ped and Lit (MUS:5130), 2 semester hours
- Audition Repertoire (MUS:3140), 1 to 2 semester hours
- Wind Instrument Repair and Maintenance (MUS:3830), 1 semester hour
- This course can be repeated.
Percussion majors pursuing teacher licensure may also select music education classes as music electives:
- Instr. Methods and Materials (EDTL:3630/MUS:3630), 3 semester hours
- Instrumental Techniques (EDTL:3065/MUS:3605), 6 semester hours
- Instrumental Conducting (EDTL:3635/MUS:3635), 3 semester hours
- Methods/Materials: General Music (EDTL:3620), 3 semester hours
- Communication and literacy
- Rhetoric, 4 semester hours
- Interpretation of Literature, 3 semester hours
- World Language, 0 to 16 semester hours
- Natural, qualitative, and social sciences
- Natural Sciences, 7 semester hours
- Quantitative or Formal Reasoning, 3 semester hours
- Social Sciences, 3 semester hours
- Culture, society, and the arts*
- Diversity and Inclusion, 3 semester hours
- Historical Perspectives, 3 semester hours
- International and Global Issues, 3 semester hours
- Literary, Visual, and Performing Arts, 3 semester hours
- Values and Culture, 3 semester hours
*Music majors may use up to three music courses (MUS) toward completing the General Education Requirements.
Create your academic path
You'll find degree overviews, requirements, course lists, academic plans, and more to help you plan your education and explore your possibilities.
Current course list
The MyUI Schedule displays registered courses for a particular session and is available to enrolled students. The list view includes course instructors, time and location, and features to drop courses or change sections.
Percussion faculty
Dan Moore
Practice and perform
Need to book a music room, request an accompanist, check out audition information, rent a locker, or use a recording studio? Visit the Music Callboard for all scheduling and policy information.